-Believe-IF-Stunnerz

The head of Kenya's Anglican Church has rejected a compromise over gay bishops by US Episcopal Church leaders.
They have said they will halt the ordination of gay bishops and public blessings of same-sex relationships to prevent a split in the Anglican Church.
"That word 'halt' is not enough," said Archbishop Benjamin Nzimbi.
Many African Anglicans threatened to leave the worldwide Anglican Communion after the ordination of the first openly gay bishop four years ago.
The American Church was told to meet the conditions by 30 September or lose membership of the communion.
US bishops made the decision after a six-day meeting in New Orleans.
The meeting was attended in part by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who urged the Episcopal Church to make concessions for the sake of unity.
'Repent'
Last month, Archbishop Nzimbi presided over the consecration of two US bishops, Bill Murdoch and Bill Atwood, who left the US branch of the Anglican Church - the Episcopal Church - after it consecrated an openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson, in 2003.

Two US bishops were consecrated in Kenya last month

The Kenyan archbishop said the US church leaders' comments did not go far enough.
"What we expected to come from them is to repent - that this is a sin in the eyes of the Lord and repentance is what me, in particular, and others expected to hear coming from this church," he said.
Correspondents say it was hoped the agreement would help defuse the crisis.
But Assistant Bishop of Kampala, Ugandan David Zac Niringiye, says it was "not a change of heart" and showed the church was already split.
"What this situation has brought to the fore is the malaise - something much deeper - that the entire communion has not dealt with and the consecration of Bishop Gene really brought to the surface something that was there," he told the BBC's Focus on Africa programme.
"It is not the same church because it's broken on very fundamental lines."
Traditionalists in the US are already making plans to set up their own independent church.
Conservative churchgoers believe homosexuality is contrary to the Church's teachings.
However, liberal Anglicans have argued that biblical teachings on justice and inclusion should take precedence.
The Episcopal bishops did reaffirm their commitment to the civil rights of gay people and said they opposed any violence towards them or violation of their dignity.
The meeting in New Orleans follows a summit of Anglican leaders in Tanzania earlier in the year which gave the US Episcopal Church a deadline of 30 September to define its position on the issue.

The leaders threatened that a failure to do so would leave their relationship with the US branch of Anglicanism "damaged at best".

persistenceGoldie

I don't think anybody choses to be attracted to certain gender only. It just is. It can't be written in any holy book to have to reject yourself for man-made ideas. I agree most of the books contain eternal wisdom, but some ideas can be very outdated.

Of course, I look at holy books from a literary perspective. I assume these are written by wise people, and have been written to keep the norms of the society they were set in. With changing times, some of the interpretations, etc. change. Besides, people are known to twist religion, etc. for their own benefit.

I see no wrong in accepting homosexuals as they are, and letting them preach. IT 's like any other job; you don't let your personal preferences interfere with the job. I wonder if I am making sense.

saregIF-Dazzler

If it is written in the holy book and the religion specifically states that it is not allowed under the religion (and I dont know since I havent read the book )

Then it would be hypocritical to have preachers of the religion as homosexuals, unless there is first a drive to rewrite the Original book to permit homosexuality

Anyway, I think it is the right of the people of the faith and the religious heads to decide whether it should be acceptable or not

I dont belong to that religion so I dont have a right to tell anyone who they should or should not have as their religious preachers, I wouldnt want someone else to tell me who and what attributes the preachers of "my" religion should have

return_to_hadesIF-Sizzlerz

The numerous denominations of Christianity go to show that the Bible has been interpreted in many ways.

Now let us move to Catholicism which this debate is about. Catholic's have a stronger code for their Bishops and Priests. One of them being abstinence.

At the same time biologically lust and carnal desire are natural. You cannot defy hormones. When your hormones are triggered by the right stimulus you experience desire. Absitenence is not the elimination of desire but the suppression and control of that desire. Any Priest will experience desire, but the true test is that they suppress their desires for the purpose of service to God. So logically what difference is homosexual desire from heterosexual desire. If the Priest is able to successfully suppress it, then why should he be denied.

Has anyone read Thornbirds or seen the TV series. I think it shows the great eternal conflict between human desire and service to God.

That being said, this is my personal viewpoint as a non Catholic. It would be foolhardy for me to expect any religion to take my view at face value. I think the church can decide in matters of their internal affairs as long as they do not interfere in mine.

raj5000Moderator

they can marry there? woah! don't know about bishops there but here they definitely aren't allowed to marry! because the whole point is that their life is meant to be dedicated to God and God only. Thats why there is no room for a wife and children.

maybe US system is different, here, whats the point, ur not commiting urself to God because ur time is being shared with others.

I am not talking about Bishops. I am talking about preachers and fathers in the church. In India too we have many family friends who are fathers of Church and married with kids.

Nowhere in the Bible it is written that to serve god one should remain unmarried though in some Christian churches, fathers don't marry.

I think you have got whole point of how to serve god wrong.

My knowledge on this is limited so it would be nice if a Christian throws light on it. What I have mentioned here is courtesy lots of Christian family friends. I have American neighbors who even call Jesus, gay (ofcourse jokingly) and still go to Church regularly.

@bold - yes, same opinion. Have met and added masses conducted by priests who have happy maried life. I agree there are some sisters/bothers who are not allowed to get into family life, but with just knowledge of studying in a convent, all I know.In hindu culture whoever opts from bramcharya is not allowed to have s* relationship, perhaps same thing.

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